Healthy Poha Recipe: Easy Indian Breakfast

Incredibly easy to put together and super flavorful- this healthy poha recipe is a must-try for breakfast. What’s best is the fact that it is gluten-free too! 

What is Poha?

Poha literally means flattened rice. As a dish, it is a breakfast item that is served all throughout the country but is more popular in the western and central states. The flattened rice is cooked with some mild spices and garnished with chopped coriander and peanuts. 

The dish is quite easy to replicate, and you can also serve it as a mid-day snack. 

Jump to:

• What is Poha?
• Ingredients For the Healthy Poha
• How to Make the Poha
• Healthy Poha Recipe: Easy Indian Breakfast

Ingredients For the Healthy Poha

There’s no lengthy list of ingredients you’ll need to make this poha. In fact, everything you need is probably already in your pantry. 

• Poha/ Flattened Rice: 1 cup
• Water: As required
• Oil: 1 tbsp
• Mustard seeds: 1 tsp
• Curry leaves: 5-6
• Peanuts: ⅛ cup
• Onions (chopped): ¼ cup
• Green chilies (slit): 2-3
• Peas: ¼ cup
• Tomatoes (chopped): ⅛ cup
• Ginger garlic paste: 1 tbsp
• Turmeric powder: ½ tsp
• Red chili powder: 1 tsp
• Coriander powder: 2 tsp
• Cumin powder: 1 tsp
• Salt: As per taste
• Coriander leaves (chopped): For garnish

How to Make the Poha

Ready with your ingredients? Follow this step-by-step recipe to make the healthy poha using the ingredients. 

Take the poha/flattened rice in a bowl and add enough water to cover it. Let it sit in the water for 2 minutes. Then squeeze out the water from the flattened rice and transfer it to a new plate. 

Heat oil in a pan and add mustard seeds and curry leaves. Let them crackle. 

Next, add the peanuts and saute. 

Once the peanuts are cooked, add the chopped onions and slit green chilies. 

Add the peas and the tomatoes and saute. 

Next, add the spices and mix well. 

Add the squeezed flattened rice next and mix everything properly. 

Garnish with chopped coriander and serve hot with tea. 

What Else Can I Add In?

You’ll find several versions of the poha recipe depending on what you’re adding in. This healthy poha needs you to add in tomatoes and peas, but you don’t necessarily need to stick to it. You can also experiment with the flavors and add in the veggies of your choice. 

Onions, carrots, potatoes, bell peppers, and even cabbage are all good options to consider. Remember that the cooking time for each of these veggies can vary, so you’ll need to cook them accordingly. 

Can I Store the Leftovers?

While this poha tastes best when consumed immediately while it is still piping hot, you can also store the leftovers for later. Better yet, you can also batch make it and store it for another day. 

Just transfer it to an airtight container and refrigerate it. It can stay good in there for up to 5 days. 

Is Poha Healthy?

Poha is generally quite healthy. It isn’t too fatty and calorie-loaded, and the flattened rice flakes that are used to make it undergo minimal processing and are not polished too. It undergoes processing with the bran, which helps keep the nutrients intact. 

That’s not all this recipe also calls for the addition of veggies that make it even more healthy. 

Plus, the ingredients that make it up are easy to digest too! 

Tips & Tricks to Make the Healthy Poha

Ready to give this easy and healthy poha recipe a shot? Wait up! Keep these little tips and tricks in mind to make sure you nail the recipe. 

• To make sure the poha turns out flaky and perfect, you’ll need to be careful about the time you’re soaking it for. Soaking the poha for too long will cause it to become mushy- just a couple of minutes is usually enough. 
• Another cool trick to make sure that the rice flakes don’t become too soft is to rinse them in a colander and allow all the excess water to drain out. 
• Remember to choose the thicker version of poha. You’ll find ones that are super thin too, but using them will not give you the texture you’re looking for and will stick together, giving your poha a clumpy look.  
• Once you add the poha in and give it a good mix, let it cook on low heat. This will ensure that all of it is cooked to perfection, and the poha doesn’t end up sticking to the bottom of the pan. 
• If your seems done but still appears too dry, you can sprinkle a few drops of water and give it a quick mix. 
• To enhance the flavors of this healthy poha, you can squeeze a bit of lemon juice over the top once it is done cooking, give it a quick stir and then serve. 
• You can also add a teaspoon of sugar into the mixture while making the poha. This will balance out the flavors perfectly. 
• Grating some fresh coconut over the top, right before you serve is also a great way to enhance the flavors of the poha and make it more nutritious. 
• Sprinkle some fresh pomegranate seeds or some sev over the top of your bowl of poha to lend it a nice element of crunch. 

Serving Ideas & Suggestions 

Is your pot of healthy poha ready? Here are some cool ideas to serve it the right way. 

• Transfer the poha to a small bowl or deep-dish plate and serve it the right way. And of course, don’t forget the toppings. If you’re having this for breakfast, you might want to have it with some tea. 
• Whipping up a complete Indian breakfast spread? This healthy poha can taste great when teamed up with some steamed Khaman dhokla or crunchy Sabudana vada. 
• You can also pair the poha with some aloo parathas on the side. Together, they can make for an incredibly healthy and filling breakfast to dig into on a weekend morning. 
• You can also serve the poha with some spicy green chutney if you have the tolerance for it, or some hot jalebis if you want to enjoy some sweetness.